|  Lucca
is surrounded by the intact Renaissance walls
the
town of Lucca can
boast a well kept historical centre, where the medieval
palaces form a natural line along the main streets. The
completely intact ring wall, 150 years ago changed into
a promenade, encloses a medieval city with tight streets
and lanes, old houses, towers and palaces as well as
over 100 churches. Before the ring wall was built in
its current form, it has already given at least two older
and smaller walls, from which still today remains are
existing. Thus for example at the via San Nicolao and
at the via S. Gemma Galgani are still standing two city
gates of the previous wall.
Walking the Walls of Lucca
The
walls are what make Lucca, and they comprise a
city park more than 4 km (3 miles) long filled with
avenues of plane, chestnut, and ilex trees planted by Marie
Louise Bourbon in the 19th century.
The shady paved paths of Lucca's
formidable bastions are busy year-round with couples
walking hand in hand, tables of old men playing unfathomable
Italian card games, families strolling, children playing,
and hundreds of people on bicycles, from tykes to octogenarians.
The defensive walls you see today (a
complete kidney-shaped circuit built from 1544 to 1654)
are Lucca's fourth and most impressive set and perhaps
the best preserved in all Italy.
About 12m (40 ft.) high
and 30 m (100 ft.) wide at their base, the ramparts bristled
with 126 cannons until the Austrian overlords removed them.
The walls of Lucca were never put to the
test against an enemy army, though it turned out they made
excellent dikes.
T
the walls saved the
city of Lucca in 1812 when a massive flood of the Serchio
River inundated the valley.
Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi was
governing Lucca at the time from her villa outside the
walls, and when she tried to get into the city for safety,
the people didn't want to open the gates for fear of the
surging waters. Lest they let their princess -- and, more
important, the sister of Europe's emperor drown, however,
they hoisted her highness over the walls rather unceremoniously
with the help of a crane. THE GATES OF LUCCA:
If you walk or drive along the walls,
you will see six gates. Porta San Pietro gate
This gate was ended in 1566 and was planned by Alessandro Resta who placed
an image of St. Peter over the central arch. The two side arches were made
only in 1864.
Porta Santa Maria gate
It was erected with only an arch by Ginese Bresciani in 1593. It was decorated
with a marble sculpture representing Mary with the Child. On the sides there
are two panthers holding the town coat of arms. The side arch has been opened
only recently.
Porta San Donato gate
It was erected later than the other two: its was started by Muzio Oddi in 1629.
It is made of brick and decorated with marble.
Porta Elisa gate
It
was erected in neoclassical style in 1804. It was commissioned
by Elisa Baiocchi, Napoleon's sister, who wanted to open the east side of the
town, which had been closed in the XVI century for defensive reasons.
Porta Sant' Anna gate
Porta San Jacopo gate |
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